What is an Energy Recovery Ventilator?

As you consider issues like safe heating and indoor air quality, you may be wondering about ventilation solutions for your home. Ventilation plays an important role in the safe heating of your home, especially if you operate a gas or oil furnace. Homes with wood burning fireplaces may also benefit from important ventilation improvements, and an energy recovery ventilator is an excellent choice for maximizing energy efficiency while enhancing your indoor air quality.

Benefits of Installing an Energy Recovery Ventilator

One of the most significant reasons for considering an ERV is your need for more fresh air in the home. The winter months in Tryon, NC can be extremely cold, and tight home sealing is common. While this can improve your home’s energy efficiency, it can also lead to more pronounced problems with indoor pollution. Ventilation is needed to dilute the concentration of pollutants in the airstream.

Bringing fresh air into your home during the cold winter months may sound like a step backward in home energy performance. However, an ERV is designed to limit energy loss by preconditioning the incoming air. This allows you to enjoy fresh air without an added heating load and higher energy expenses.

Operation and Installation of an ERV

Your ERV exhausts air from a more polluted room in the home. The kitchen, laundry area and bathroom are potential points for this process. Incoming air is directed into one of your living areas or bedrooms. The incoming and outgoing air streams travel through the same unit, separated to prevent contamination of the incoming stream. Heat is exchanged as the two airstreams move through the unit, allowing incoming air to recover much of the outgoing energy.

It is critical that you have a knowledgeable HVAC contractor handle the installation of your unit. In addition to issues like proper wiring and venting, your technician is responsible for ensuring that your home is properly balanced so that you don’t experience problems with backdrafting. If your home uses combustion equipment for heating or cooking, this is particularly important. Carbon monoxide risks are of significant concern, and your professional will complete the installation correctly so that your home is protected against such issues.

Deciding Between an ERV and an HRV

Heat recovery ventilators are designed for climates that experience harsh winters and mild summers. A Carrier ERV can attain nearly 80 percent efficiency in recovering heat in the winter and just over 50 percent efficiency in cooling recovery during the summer. A Carrier HRV provides up to 94 percent heating recovery and no cooling recovery. Residents in some areas can benefit from either option, making it important to consult with your contractor before deciding.

Gentry Heating provides comprehensive indoor air quality solutions to our customers in Tryon, NC. We can provide an IAQ evaluation to pinpoint issues with pollutants in your home. We can also test for leaks and assess your existing ventilation. You can contact our office to discuss your concerns or schedule an appointment.